A reunion to remember

Georgia College alumni reunite during Homecoming weekend

Alumni of all ages were seen all over the Georgia College campus during Homecoming, including women who were here during the introduction of co-education at the college.

“We kind of though co-ed was coming, and we resisted bitterly,” Jo Benton of Athens said. “It happened in a few years and we were not happy about it, but we survived.”

Hilary Thompson

Alumni reunited with old classmates and professors over Homecoming weekend. Alumni brought their families and discussed what life was like during their time in Milledgeville.

“When I was here we didn’t go home, and we could not leave the campus on Saturdays.  The patients from the (Central State) hospital were brought to the cinema so we couldn’t leave,” Benton said, “We also had a 10:30 (p.m.) curfew on school nights and I think 11 (p.m.) on weekends.”

Observing her younger counterparts of the college, Benton noticed that fashion choices have greatly changed over the years.

“We couldn’t even be on Front Campus in shorts unless we had a raincoat covering it.  Today even law students go to class in flip-flops,” Benton said.

Benton is only one of many alumni who enjoyed Alumni Weekend, which started with the Peabody School Reunion Luncheon, held in the Magnolia Ballroom on Friday.

After the luncheon, the alumni were invited to meet in front of Parks Hall for a walk to Memory Hill Cemetery to memorialize the past presidents of Georgia College who are buried there.

Friday of the Alumni Weekend continued with a welcome reception at 7 p.m. and the Kappa Sigma Alumni Banquet at 7:30 p.m.

Many more activities were available for alumni on Saturday, including the Bobcat Ramble, campus tours, the Homecoming parade, tailgating, a wine and cheese reception, receptions for the 1951, 1961 and 1971 classes and more.

Some students feel like the alumni presence was not as pronounced as it could have been.

“There were only a few alumni that I saw,” freshman biology major Laura Aycock said.

Others feel that even though alumni were present at the Homecoming game and concert, there should be a way for current students to meet alumni more personally.

“I think a meet and greet would be really cool,” junior psychology major Robianna Hill said, “You would get to hear about how Georgia College was before we were here.”

One fact remains, however, that the long Homecoming tradition is one that will last still longer.

“It’s such a special place,” Benton said, “It’s fun to come back.”

Posted by Hilary Thompson on Feb 28 2011. Filed under Features. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can skip to the end and leave a response. Pinging is currently not allowed.